
Class 
Book_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



DUNCAN'S 




EM, 




FECim 



— AND — 



RESTAURANT, 



Corner Water and First Streets, 



:5rEWBlTRC;H, ir. y. 



Witliiii three luiiiiiteiji' walk oi'all clepotiti and steaiu- 

boat laudiiigs aud on direct route to 

Wa.s]ii]ig-ton^M llea<1quarters. 



N. B.— Weddings and Parties Supplied. 



1833. 



1887. 



m mm 




First-Class in Every Respect, 



COR. FRONT AND SECOND STS. 



Dinner on arrival of Albany Day-Boats 



AXI> IT^TII. 3 P. M. 



The close proxiiuity to all <le|»ots aiatl steamboat 
laiidiiigs luakes it a de.sirable stoppiiig-plaee for 
Mereliaiits, Tourists and Families visitisi^- the eity, 
and tor those visiting ^Vashington's Headquarters. 



S^^ It was at this hotel that Major-General Winfield Scott stopped 
when, on July 4th, 1850, he came up from West Point to be present at 
the dedication of the Headquarters and to raise the U. S. flag that first 
floated over the place after it became the property of the State. 



THOMAS DARCY, Proprietor. 



A TRUE HISTORY 



OF 



THE ACQUISITION 



OF 



nSHINGTON'8 HEADQUARTERS 



AT :KKn'Bi :k«ji[. 



By the State of New York, 




BY RICHARD CALDWELL, 



SALISBUKY MILLS, N. Y. 



F-1 ^9 



Copyrighted. 1887, by the Author, 

RICHARD CALDWELL, 

Salisbury Mills. N. Y. 



STIVERS, SLAUSON & BOYD, 

MiDDLETOWN, N. Y. 

1887. 



Miss De. Julia E. Bkadner, President of tlie Old Ladies' 

Society of Orange County, New York : 

I have written a true account of how that (which in the 
past, and is in the present, as it will ever be in the future) 
Avell-known and historic spot, Washington's Headijuarters, 
located at Newburgh, in this county, came to pass from 
private ownership into the possession of the State of New 
York. 

This account has l)een copyrighted and will first appear in 
the Middletown Daily Press, as well as in the semi- weekly 
edition — The Orange County Press. It will also l)e printed 
in Pamphlet form. The latter are to be sold. In casting 
about for a local county ol)ject as a beneficiary for the re- 
sultant pecuniary benefits (if any) from the sale of these 
pamphlets, I don't know of any which commends itself more 
to my sympathies, as well as to my best judgment, than does 
the beneficent object you have undertaken to accomplish, 
which in the article^ of incorporation you state to be the 
"making a comfortable home in Orange County for 
aged and infirm and destitute ladies of said county, 
wherein the sick and enfeebled may receive all requisite care 
and attention in sickness and health, and be provided a 
respectal)le burial at death." In the furtherance of this 
truly commendaljle ol^ject I hereby offer you all the pro- 
ceeds which there may be from the sale of these pam- 
phlets, after deducting the cost of their publication and any 
attendant expenses of such sale. 

Very respectfully your well-wisher in the work you have 
undertaken, ' ' KICHzVRD CALDWELL. 

Salisbury Mills, N. Y., January 18th, 1887. 

To Mil. R. Caldwell : 

Dear Sir : — In Ijehalf of the cause which we have so 
much at heart, I thank you for your kind offer of the pro- 
ceeds of sale of the Headrpiarters article, hoping we may 
realize something in aid of an object so dear to us. 
Respectfully yours, 

JULIA E. BRADNER, 
President Orange County Home Society. 
Middletown, January 20th, 1887. 



INTRODUCTOEY. 



Mr. E. M. Ruttenber, in liis history of Orange County, 
under the head of " Washington's Headquarters,'' on pages 
283 and 284 says : " A large, and in some departments 
vahial )le collection of manuscripts and relics is now deposited 
in the huilding, for which, as well as for the initial steps, 
hj which the State authorities were induced to purchase the 
property, the pul)lic are mainly indel)ted to the late Enoch 
Carter, although many other articles of value have Ijeen 
added l)y other parties, and especially by the State and 
Federal authorities." 

That the statement al)Ove made in respect to the collec- 
tion of relics and manuscripts gathered ui the Ijuilding is 
correct, the writer believes, for Mr. Carter's large heart and 
pul)lic spirit and patriotic impulses were well known. That 
they went l^eyond those of his fellow townsmen at the time, 
in respect to his efforts to gain possession for the State, of 
the Headquarters pro]:)erty itself, the writer also knows. He 
further knows that while Mr. Carter was heartily in sympa- 
thy with the movement to gain such possession, " the public 
are (not) mainly indebted to him for the intitial steps l)y 
which tlie State authorities were induced to purchase the 
property," Init to another person, as the following article 
will most conclusively show. 

It is further l:>elieved that Mr. Ruttenl )er has unintentionally 
l)een led into the statement above copied from his history, 
a statement he would not have made if he had known all 
the facts. 



THE HISTORY. 



To the many from all parts of the world who have visited 
the 1;)eaiitiful and historic grounds at Washington's Head- 
quarters, in Newburgh, the secret history of how they 
came into the possession of the State may not l)e known. 
Indeed, it isl)elieved that very few, if any, j^ersons in New- 
burgh itself know of this history, and liow near this 
(to the country) valua))le property came to passing into 
private hands. . AVe are told in Holy AVrit, that in one 
period of the world's history, or more especially in one 
period of the history of Egypt, " a King arose who knew 
not Joseph," meaning that the past benefits which that 
wonderful man had conferred on the Egyjjtian Monarchy, 
had, in the lapse of time, the busy onrush of the present, 
and more particularly in the jealousy of the rising, growing 
power mthin her midst, l)een forgotten, and the name of the 
man who pre-eminently al)ove all others had been the means 
of her exaltation, was heard no more in the land as the founder 
of her greatness, and her saviour in the years of her dire dis- 
tress. Not mtli the idea or intention, for a moment, of 
claiming that tliere is a parallel between Joseph, the great 
Governor of Egypt, with his prophetic, far-seeing and out- 
reaching plans which involved the destiny of two nations 
for all future time, and that of the foresight and oat-reaching 
plan of the humble individual in private life, wh<^se connec- 
tion with the salvation of Washington's Headquarters is 
now to be given. Yet, history which records the greatness 



8 Washingtoj^'s Headquarters. 

and deeds of the one on tlie sacred page, to l)e true and just, 
onglit also to record tlie fact that to tlie exertions of one 
man TsVwImrgli is indel)ted to-day for the fact tliat the 
Hea(l(|uarters property l)eh:)ngs to tlie State of New York, 
and not to a private individual, or perhaps three individuals. 
To give the history : As is well known, tlie property in Rev- 
olutionary times, and before, and after, was known as " The 
Hasbrouck Property ; " the house as " The Old Hasbrouck 
House," and so named in public ])apers of that day. For 
how long it was in the jiossession of the Hasl)rouck family 
anterior to the time when it l)ecame the property of Jonathan 
Has])rouck (tlie last of the name who owned it) is to tlie 
writer unknoA\'n. But it must have been for a considerable 
period, from the fact that it had come to be identified with 
the family name, and also that it was cherished as a most 
precious heir-loom Ijy the memljers of the family, and l)y 
Jonathan es])ecially, the last owner of the name, whose 
heai't strings were torn when it was forever alienated fi-om 
him. To extricate himself from the financial difliculties 
wliicli in the latter years of his life seemed like a spider's 
web to environ the old man in their meshes, Jonathan 
Hasl)rouck and Phebe, his wife, mortgaged "The Has- 
brouck Property " to the " Commissioners of the United 
States Deposit Fund " for the County of Orange, on the 
l'2th day of July, in the year 1837, for $2, GOO. For many 
years the annual interest was regularly paid in the month of 
October, the time prescribed by la\v\ "But it fell on a 
day " (the first Tuesday of October, 1848) that the old man 
could not make his annual payment, on the last day of 
the four, in that month, on which he had the option of ])ay- 
ing, nor could he at the (.'nd of the week of grace thereafter, 
which the la^v gave, nor at the end of the three months ad- 
vertised time of sale under foreclosure. It was truly 



How Acquired.- 9 

pitiful the efforts wliicli the old man made to save liis lieart- 
treasured possession, wliicli had for so long a time l:)een in 
his family, and it would almost bring tears to tlie eyes of 
Mr. Caldwell, one of the Commissioners, the letters he 
received during these three months from Jonathan Has- 
broiick to know if there could not be some further delay in 
the proceedings, to give him a chance to raise the amount due 
on the mortgage, a chance which the old man always saw a 
little way ahead. But the " Book of Instructions," for the 
Commissioners' guidance as to their duties, was very plain 
and explicit, and any deviation to the detriment of the fund 
would have incurred to themselves personal liability, as well 
as malfeasance. If the writer remembers correctly, the two 
Commissioners told Mr. Hasbrouck that if he could raise 
the money within the time limit of the law, they would 
remit all fees and commissions which the law allowed them. 
But he could not. 

SALE or THE PEOPEPvTY. 

It was init u]) for sale, and no person appearing to l)id 
the amount due, it was l)id in l)y the Commissioners for and 
on account of tlie United States Deposit Fund, at the Court 
House, in Goshen, on the first Tuesday in FeVjruary, 1849. 
The old man was at the sale, and ^vhen it was finally 
struck off he burst into tears. 

The law provides that Appraisers shall be appointed by 
the Commissioners who shall put a value on the property, 
when it is, after a prescribed time, to be again offered for 
sale ; if no bid is received equal to the appraised value, the 
Commissioners are to 1)id tliat sum, and the ])roperty 
becomes the State's aljsolutely. This they did. It should be 
said, however, that the mortgagor had the right to redeem 
the property at the appraised value and costs of sale. Old 



10 



Washington's Headquarteks. 




Mr. Hasbrouck in the interim was trying to raise tlie money 

to pay off the claims, ])ut 
never succeeded. The Com- 
missioners, who ^vere Andrew 
J. Cakhvell, of Blooming 
Grove, and Alexander Camp- 
l)ell, of Monroe, were made 
custodians of the property 
after the sale, l)y the then 
Comptroller of the State, 
Hon. Washington Hunt, and 
v^\ it was liy them })ut in charge 
¥:' of a kee])er. It was at this 
time that efforts were made 
by private parties, both by 
letters and tlirough personal 
interview with the Commis- 
sioners or rather Commissioner (for Mr. Caldwell was, 
by the acquiesence of " Father Campbell," the prominent 
man in tlie transaction) to 
induce him to use his influ- 
ence ^^^.th the Comptroller to 
sell the property to them, 
which he would have done 
if the Commissioners had so 
ad\ased, and the recollection 
is (which, however, may not 
be correct) that a less sum 
was offered than the amount 
of appraisal and interest to 
time of the offei-. Mr. Cald- 
well declined, as he had other 

, ' ALEXANDER CA31PBELL. 

plans and. purposes. [From a nteness taken in 1352.] 



ANDREW J. CALDWELL. 

[Taken when 80 years of age.] 




How Acquired. 11 

EFFORTS TO IN^Dl CE RESIDENTS OF NEWBURGH TO BUY THE 

PROPERTY. 

First he tried to induce private parties in Newburgh to 
subscribe a sum sufHcieut to liquidate the Deposit Fund 
claim. In this effort he was heartily seconded by the late 
Enoch Carter, Esq., who, as far as his desires and pecimiary 
ability w^ent, was as pu])lie-spirited a man as Newl)urgh ever 
possessed. But love of money was greater among the men of 
means of Newburgh at the time, than love of patriotism, or at 
least of Washington's Headquarters. Mr. Carter was much 
disappointed and out of patience at the action, or rather 
non-action, of his fellow townsmen, and gave expression to 
his opinion of them in words which those who remember him 
well can very w'ell imagine were much more emphatic than 
Scriptual. 

PLANS PROPOSED. 

Then Mr. Cakbvell entered into correspondence mth Hon. 
Hamilton Fish, the then Governor of the State, proposing 
two plans. One was for the Legislatm-e of New York to 
memorialize Congress to remit its claim on the State of 
New York for the amount due the United States Deposit 
Fund to a sum equal to the amount of the morgage, $2,000, 
mth accrued interest and expenses. This is the plan which 
Ml'. Caldwell favored, as in case they did, it would not 
cost the State any money. The other plan was for the Leg- 
islature to appropriate a sum sufficient to discharge all the 
amount due to the Fund, the law recpiiring that the principal 
of the Fund should always be kept intact. 

THE governor's WISDOM. 

The Governor cIk^sc the latter course as being moi'e direct 
and expeditious, and in this he undoubtedly showed his 



12 Washington's Headquarters. 

wsdom, foi" if application had been made to ConoTess, action 
would perliaps have been delayed through opposition of in- 
terested parties who had their own private schemes and 
purposes to carry out. Governor Fish in his first annual 
message, after his attention had been called to the subject, 
asked or recommended that the Legislature ap23ropriate the 
sum required, which they did, and so the property became 
the State's, absolutely and forever. The Deposit Fund was 
fully reim1)ursed, and private parties who wanted to make a 
big speculation out of the old historic spot were foiled in 
their purpose. Tiie correspondence l^etween Mr. Caldwell 
and Governor Fish, which was placed before the Board 
of Trustees by George Corn-wall, Esq., once a Trustee ofjthe 
Village of Newburgh, and up to his death President of the 
Highland Bank of that place, is here given, ti'anscribed from 
the public records of the then Village of Newl:>urgh, as well 
as the resolution of the Trustees of that village on the 
subject : 

Newburgh, May 8, 1850. 
Andrew J. Caldwell, Esq. : 

Dear Sir :— -It affords me great pleasure to be enabled to 
lay your correspondence with Gov. Fish before the Commit- 
tee on Washington's Headquarters, and subsequently, before 
our Board of Trustees. The action of the latter body upon 
the subject you will find enclosed, together with the j^apers 
sent me. I remain very respectfully yours, etc., 

GEORGE CORNWALL. 

The above Committee was prol)nl)ly the one appointed to 
make arrangements for and take charge of the dedication 
ceremonies, July 4th, 1850. 

the correspondence. 

At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Vil- 
lage of Newburgh, held at the United States Hotel, on 



How Acquired. 13 

Wednesday, April 24tli, 1850, the following resolutions 
were unanimously adopted : 

Kesolved, That on behalf of the citizens of ]Slewl)urgh, 
and the pul)lic generally, the thanks of this Board l^e 
tendered to Andrew J. Caldwell, Es(i., Commissioner of 
Loans, for his early and efficient exertions to obtain the pas- 
sage of the act by the Legislatui'e to retain tlie title to the 
grounds know^n as Washington's Headquarters, and making 
them forever public grounds, and tliat his correspondence 
with Gov. Fish upon the subject l)e entered upon the minutes 
of the Board, and that a copy of this resolution Ije for- 
warded to Mr. Caldw ell. 

Signed, JACKSON OAKLEY, 

Newbm-gh, May 8, 1850. Clerk. 

ANDREW J. CALDWELL TO GOV. FISH I 

Salisbury Mills, Orange County, 1st Oct., 1849. 

Sir — T beg leave to bring to your notice a transaction in 
Avhich I have been concerned, in the discharge of official 
duty, and which I venture to presume will not be considered 
unw^orthy the Chief Magistrate of the State of New York. 

The Commissioners of the United States Deposit Fund 
of the Comity of Orange, in pursuance of law, have exposed 
to public sale the premises in the Village of Newbiu'gh, con- 
taining the old stone house known as " Washington's Head- 
quarters," and have bid in the same on ])elialf of the State. 

The place consecrated by so many interesting associations 
has become the property of the State, and in the ordinary 
course is to V)e sold by the Commissioners of the Land Office, 
for the l)enefit of the United States Deposit Fund. I need 
not remind you sir, that the old stone house was the resi- 
dence of Washington's family for the last two years of the 
war ; that there he received the news of peace, there he dis- 
Ijanded the iVi-my of the Revolution, and ^vhen that army, 
goaded almost to desperation in view of their wTongs as set 
forth in the famous " Newl)urgh Letters," were preparing to 
enforce theii- claims at the point of the bayonet, then and 



14 Washington's Headquartees. 

there it was lie achieved the crowning glory of his military 
career, issued his imcomparable address to the army, soothed 
the angry passions of the excited soldiery, averted the 
theatened storm, and thus once more saved the Republic. I 
venture sir, to submit to you whether it would l)e credital^le 
for the State of New York to sell this venerable and 
hallowed spot which has now come into its possession, or 
whether on the other hand it would not be more to the 
honor of the State, and in accordance with public sentiment, 
to hand it down to posterity as a monument to the memory 
of its former revered and illustrious occupant, and an endur- 
ing memorial of the interesting transactions of which it ^vas 
the scene. Should the authorities of the State concur in 
these views, it would not be difficult to devise a plan, l)y 
which, under sanction of law, the preservation of the prem- 
ises as a public ground might l)e effectually secured. It 
must be borne in mind that these premises have cost the 
State nothing, and if the competent authorities should see 
fit to transfer the charge to any ])ublic body, for pu]:)lic uses, 
there can be no doubt that the United States would release 
forever their interest in the Deposit Fund to that amount. 
In taking this liberty, I feel the greater confidence, in that 
the appeal is to one whose name and family are so intimately 
connected with the times, and transactions to which it refers. 
I have the honor to ])e. Sir 

Your most ol/t servant, 

ANDREW J. CALDWELL. 

GOV. fish's reply : 

New York, Oct. 6th, 1849. 
Andrew J. Caldwell, Esq., 

Salisbury Mills, Orange County. 
Sir : — I am this day favored with your letter of 1st inst. 
(forwarded to me from Allmny) referring to the sale, by the 
Commissioners in your County for loaning certain monies of 
the IT. S., of the old House known as " Washington's Head- 
quarters." I concm' entirely in the views which you have 




HON. HAMILTON FISH. 

[Engraved by Leon Barritt, Middletown, N. Y., from a photograph taken in 1875.] 



16 WasiiinctTojst's Headquarters. 

expressed of tlie propriety of securing!: this liallowed spot for 
some i)iil>lic o1)ject snital)le and appropriate to its history, 
and I should i>e most happy to give any aid within the 
sphere of my duties, which will ensure this end. It will 
give me pleasure to hear from you on the sul)ject as to any 
memorial which may l)e made by the citizens in the neigh- 
borhood. Witli very great regards, 

Your ob't servant, 

HAMILTON FISH. 

There was other correspondence l>etween Gov. Fish and 
Mr. Caldwell, and other parties, in relation to the best coiu'se 
to take to secure the property, which cannot now be found. 
From a memorandum in Mr. Caldwell's hand-writing, found 
among his papers, it is shown that on August 2(3, 1859, "a 
bundle " of letters were sent to a gentleman residing in New- 
burgh accompanied by a letter in which he says " I wish it 
understood that I do not ^vish my name brought forward 
prominently in your work, and not more than the history of 
the case requu-es." 

ACTION BOARD SUPERVISORS OF ORANGE COUNTY. 

On page 324, Proceedings of Board Super\dsors on Thurs- 
day, Nov. 22, 1849, appears the following: 

"Andrew J. Caldwell, Esq., appeared before the Board 
and stated that certain premises in Ne^vljurgh had been sold 
by the Loan Commissioners and l^ought in by them for the 
State ; said premises are known by the name of Washington's 
Head Quai-ters. And also by request read a cori'espondence 
between himself and the Governor of the State on the subject 
of preserving the said premises for a pul^lic ground. And 
he also asked the co-operation of the Board in accomplishing 
that subject. On motion of Mr. Fullerton it was resolved 
that a Committee of three be ai)pointed to take the subject 
in consideration, and report to the Board. Whereupon, 



How Acquired. I'i^ , 

Daniel Fullerton, O. S. Hathaway and L. M. Ferris were 
appointed said Committee. It was on motion, Resolved that 
the Chau'man of the Board l>e added to the Committee." 

On page 335, Proceedings Board Supervisors, on Wednes- 
day, Nov. 28th, of same year, is fomid as follows: 

PETITION BOAliD OF SUPERVISORS TO LEGISLATURE. 

To the Legislatm-e of the State of New York. The under- 
signed the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange 
Respectfully represent : 

That a portion of the monies deposited by the United 
States ^vith the State of New York were loaned under the 
direction of the said State on security of certain premises 
known as Washington's Head Quarters, located in the vil- 
lao-e of Newl)urgh in the said County of Orange. And that 
on default of payment the said premises have been sold and 
bought in for and on ])ehalf of the State. 

That it is now the duty of the Loan Office of the said 
County under the existing law to dispose of said premises, 
and to restore the proceeds thereof to the fund from whence 
the same was derived. 

That the stone building now standing on the said premises 
is on the Bank of the Hudson River in full view of the 
multitudes daily passing or. its waters from all parts of the 
world and that* it still remains unimpaired as when it was 
honored l)y the residence of AYashington and LaFayette.^ 

That the said mansion was the head-quarters of Washing- 
ton for the last two years of the Revolutionary War, and 
\vas the last he occupied in the character of Commander- 
in-Chief, and was also the scene of his most glorious triumphs 
over the fearful designs of tlie celebrated " Newburgh Let- 
ters," and wliere he. closed a military career unexampled in 
the history of the world. 

That the people of Orange County could not witness with- 
out the deepest mortification the demolition or desecration 
of an edifice, endeared to tliem and to their fellow citizens 



18 Washington's Headquarters. 

throughout tlie Union by so many Patiiotic associations and 
so intimately connected witli the History of the Revohition. 
While Forts Montgomery and Putnam, in its immediate 
neighV^orhood, aj'e mouldering in decay, your petitioners 
desire that this venerable edifice may he spared, and every 
possible exertion used to preserve and maintain it inviolate 
under the ov/nership and protection of the Empire State. 

Your Memorialists tlierefore in the name and in behalf of 
the People of the County of Orange Respectfully pray that 
your Honorable body will cause to be repaid to the United 
States Dei)osit Fund the amount that appears from the last 
annual re])ort of the Commissioners of Loans of the County 
of Orange to have been loaned upon the said premises and 
retain the title of the same in the Govei'nment of this State, 
and that you will furthei* provide l)y necessary laws for its 
preservation for all time to come. 

And your petitioners will ever pray. 

David H. Moffatt, Chairman, Blof)ming Grove. 

Daniel Fullerton, Minisink. 

LiNDLY Mt'^rry FePvRis, Moutgomer}'. 

William V. B. Armstrong, Warwick. 

Odell S. Hathaway, Newburgh. 

A. P. Thompson, Mount Hope. 

Daniel Swartwout, Deerpark. 

R. M. Vail, Goshen. 

William Jackson, Hamptonl)urgh. 

Morgan Shuit, Monroe. 

Hezekiah H. Moffatt, Chester. 

John Denniston, Cornwall. 

Abram Vail, Jr., Wailkill. 

Augustus Thompson, Crawford. 

The towns are not appended to the names as they appear 
on the record ; they have been affixed by the author, to indi- 
cate where they belonged. All are dead it is ]>elieved l)ut 
the Superx^sor from Mt. Hope, A. P. Thompson, now 
Cashier of the Port Jervis National Bank. 

It will Ije noticed that there are l)ut fourteen towns repre. 



How Acquired. 19 

sented, J. 11. Dickson, tbe Supervisor of the only other 
town in the county, not l)eing present. 

The Committee to whom the foregoing suT)ject of Wash- 
ington's Headquarters was referred, reported the foregoing 
petition, wliich was unanimously adopted and signed by all 
the members of the Board. 

This memorial was written ])y Mv. Caldwell, as learned 
by a memorandum in his 'handwriting found among his 
papers, 1)ut was drawn up as a petitii^n from the Supervisors 
to Congress, but subsequently changed and addi'essed to the 
Legislature. 

From the sul)sequent action of the Governor it is giithered 
that the recommendation made by him to the Legislature 
was deemed by himself and Mr. Caldwell the best plan to take. 

The following is an " extract from the Annual Message of 
Hon. Hamilton Fish, Governor of the State of New York, 
to the Legislature of 1850" : 



MESSAGE OF GOVERJfOR FISH. 



"The foreclosure of a mortgage, given to the Commis- 
sioners for loaning certain moneys of the United States, has 
vested in the State the title to a piece of land, and to the stone 
])uilding, near Newljurgh, in the County of Orange, known 
as ' Washington's Head-Quarters.' I respectfully submit 
that there are associations connected with this veneraljle 
edifice which rise above the consideration of dollars and 
cents, and ^vliich should distinguish it from other acquisitions 
and property of the State, and should prevent its l)eing dis- 
posed of, unless for objects in some degree congenial with 
its past history. It is perhaps the last relic ^vithin the 
boimds of the State, and under the control of its Legisla- 
ture, connected with the history of the illustrious man who 
left us this patriotic admonition." 

[Here follows an extract from an address of George 
Washmgton :J 



20 Washingtoist's Headquarters, 

appointment of committee. 
Extract from the Assembly Journal, Jamiary 14, 1850. 

Mr. Speaker amiouneed the followmg select committees, to 
wit: * '' " ^' '' ^ 

On so much of the Annual Message of the Governor as 
relates to Washington's Head Quarters." 

Mr. Leland, Mr. Truslow, Mr. Martin, Mr. Lyons, Mr. 
Lott. 

[In Assemljly March 6, 1850.] 

Of the Select Committee in relation to the preservation of 
" Washington's Head Quarters." 

REPORT OF ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE. 

Mr. Leland, from the Select Committee, to which was re- 
ferred so much of the Annual Message of the Governor as 
relates to Washington's Headquarters, and also the petition 
of the Board of Supervisoi's of Orange County, praying for 
an act causing to be repaid to the United States Deposit 
Fund the amount, that appears from the last annual report 
of the Commissioners of Loans of the County of Orange, to 
have been loaned upon the said premises and retain the 
title of the same in the government of the State ; and that 
we will further provide b)^ necessary laws for its preserva- 
tion for all time to come, having had the same under con- 
sideration, 

REPORTS. 

It is shown that the distinguished individuals whose names 
are appended to the petition sul)mitted to the consideration 
of your Committee, are influenced by a laudable desire to 
preserve and perpetuate one of the most interesting monu- 
ments of the American Revolution. 

Though the pages of history may transmit to j)Osterity the 
events of that interesting period through all time : yet there 
are certain objects and places connected with our Revolu- 
tionary .War which every American citizen delights to look 



How Acquired. 21 

upon, and around wliieh lie loves to call back the scenes that 
rendered them dear to his memory. 

The chair in which John Hancock sat \vhen he presided 
over the Convention of 1776, and when he affixed his name 
to the Declaration of American Indej^endence, is now ])re- 
served with pions care, in the Capitol of Pennsylvania, 
where every intellio-ent and patriotic traveler visitinii; the 
city of Philadel]>hia fails not to examine that ancient rem- 
nant of Revolutionary times. 

The old day-book in which Washington, in his own hand- 
writing, kept his accounts during the E evolutionary War, is 
still preserved as a precious relic among our archives at the 
seat of our general government. 

The citizens of our sister State of Massachusetts have made 
commendable efforts to preserve from desecration the ground 
on which was fought the battle of Bunker Hill. In contem- 
plating such movements of our war of indej^endence the 1)est 
feelings of the heart are elicited and cherished. 

If our love of country is excited when we read the ])iog- 
raphy of our revolutionary heroes, oi^ the history of revolu- 
tionary events, how much more will the flame of patriotism 
burn in our bosoms when we tread the ground whei'e was 
shed the l)lood of our fathers, or when we move among the 
scenes \vhere were conceived and consummated their noble 
achievements. Let every true friend of our Country, witli 
the liveliest fervor of lieart, delight in the written pages of 
history, or the monuments of marble, or the ancient relics, 
or the memorable locality, or any other thing, which may 
transmit to our children a knowledge of the virtues of the 
fathers of the re])ul)lic. It will be good for our citizens in 
these days of political collisions, in these days of political 
demairoo'ueism : it will ])e o-ood for them in these days when 
we hear the sound of disunion reiterated Irom eveiy part oi 
the Country; in aU future time occasionally to chasten 
their minds by reviewing the history of our revolutionary 
struggle. 

That the object of the petitioners may be more fully un- 
derstood yom- Committee would state the following particu- 



22 Washington's Headquarters. 

lars : About fifty rods south of the \illage of Newburgh, in 
the County of Orange, tliere stands an ancient dwelling, 
built in an irregular form of rough stone, ^vhieh was erected 
about one hundred years ago. It is now known in that 
vicinity by the name of tlie " Old Hasbrouck House," and 
in revolutionary times l)y the name of " AVashington's Head- 
quarters." It occupies a commanding eminence on the bank 
of the Hudson River overlooking the l>eautiful hixj of New- 
bui'gh, and the military station at W^est Point, and taking 
within its range all the sj^lendid water and mountain scenery 
for which that region is remarkaV)le. In every direction from 
the house the eye may dwell upon views rich in natural 
beauty and historical recollections ; West Point on the south, 
enthroned amidst the Highlands, was the scene of some of 
the most exciting incidents which characterized our revolu- 
tionary struggle ; the beacon summits of Fishkill mountains, 
the camjvground on Fislikill and Snake Hill plains, the 
location of the l)arracks, store-houses, and lios])itals of om* 
army, are all within a short distance from this interesting 
spot. The associations of the i)lace call at once to the mind 
of every patriotic visitor many interesting occurrences con-, 
nected with the names of Stuben, Koscuisko and Lafayette. 
The " Hasbrouck House," which it is the design of the 
petitioners to ])erpetuate, was a long time the head-quarters 
of General Washington. It remains as yet in nearly the 
same condition as that in ^vhich Wasliington left it ; but 
circumstances are such that it must soon fall unless efficient 
measures are taken to [^reserve it. It contains one room in 
the centre of the house which is about twenty-four feet 
square, but the ceiling is so low as to make it appear much 
larger. This room has seven doors and but one window; 
Generid A^'ashington used it as his dining-room and parlor ; 
at night it was converted into a l)ed-ehamber for his staff 
officers and occasional visitors. On the north-east corner of 
the house, communicating ^vith the large centre room, is a 
small chamber which General Wasliington used as a study 
or private office. Many revolutionary anecdotes have heen 
told, the scenes of which were laid in the old square room at 



How Acquired. 23 

Newl)iii'i>:]i, with its seven doors and one window. When 
General Lafayette visited this country in 1824 he made a 
pilo;i'image to this veneral)le mansion. xVftev an al)sence of 
half a century his eyes could hardly l)e satisfied with exam- 
inino- the old rooms, and the little noi-th-east room, the 
wind<)\vs, the doors, the fire-place, the outside ap])earance, 
and the surrounding ol)jects and scenery of that memomble 
place. But the most memorable affair connected with the 
sul)ject remains to l)e mentioned. While the x\merican army 
was encamped around the old " Hasbrouck House" near the 
close of the war there was conceived in their midst the most 
insidious and formidable treason that ever threatened the 
prosperity and honor of our Country. The war was about 
closing by the peace of 1783, with triumph and glory. The 
army was about to be discharged; they had endured the 
]^eenest privations ; they had toiled and bled most nobly for 
their country, but had suffered for the want of clothing and 
provisions. " Their pay had l)een withheld and Congress had 
manifested a reluctance from the embarrassed state of our 
finances, promptly to adjust their claims. Broken down 
with pecuniary eml)arrassment, and witli hard service in the 
" tented field," our officers became discontented, and com- 
plained bitterly of the injustice of Congress, and the a])parent 
ingratitude of their country. The prospect of an immediate 
clisbandment in the midst of their poverty and suffering, 
without pay or even the adjustments of theiv accounts, was 
almost too much for even ^"lose noble-hearted men to endure. 
It was in the midst of tliis universal murmuring of discontent, 
on the lOth day of March, 1783, that the celebrated "New- 
burgh Letters " made their appearance. These letters were 
written in the most touching and po^verful eloquence, and 
addressed to minds'^already chafed by disappointment and a 
sense of injustice.""' The}- pointed to a remedy f<^r wrongs 
endured of a most des]:)erate character; and liad tlieir 
counsel prevailed, our Revolutionary Army, at the very 
time of consummating the most glorious achievement the 
world ever mtnessed, would have incuiTcd indelible dis- 
honor. It was in tlie small north-east room of this house 



24 WASHiNGTOiir's Headquarters. 

where Washington meditated upon these portentous letters 
and prepared liimsylf to assuao^t^ the ano-ry passions which 
Avere kindling \vith such fearful impii't tlu'oughout his army. 
Taking counsel of h's o\vn lofty mind, the imagiuiition can 
almost conceive him, on that occasion as personating the 
genius of American liberty, dictating his orders for a general 
meeting of his officers, and prepaiing an address containing 
arguments and appeals which fastened ui)on the very souls 
of his auditors, 1)rouglit tliem unanimously to confide in the 
justice of their country, and hushed their rising passions 
forever. In the elorpient language in which Washington 
closed his address, our army, " gave one more distinguislied 
proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue^ rising 
superior to the pressure of tlm most complicated suffering," 
and l)y the dignity of their conduct liave afforded " occasion 
for posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example 
they have cxli:l)iiod to mnnldnd, had that day bjen wan ing, 
the world had never seen the last stage of perfection, to wliich 
human nature is capable of attaining." It was 1 )ut a few days 
after this event that Wasliington disbanded a portion of his 
army on tlie lawn before tlie door of this anticjuated house. 
The hardy soldiers, whose hearts never quailed under danger 
or toil, melted into tears as they l)ade each otlier a lasting 
farewell on the consecrated ground which the petitioners 
seek to commemorate. 

The Committee believe that the ol)ject ^vhich the ])eti- 
tioners have in view — " to preserve and perpetuate Wash- 
ington's headcpiai-ters, in the village of Newburgh" — is 
worthy of their liigh character, and eminently deserving of 
legislative sanction. No traveler who touclies upon the 
shores of Orange county will hesitate to make a pilgrimage 
to this beautiful si)ot, associated as it is with so many 
delightful reminiscences in our early history, and if he have 
an American heart in his bosom, he wall feel himself a better 
man ; his patriotism will kindle with deeper emotion ; his 
as])irations of his country's g(^od Avill ascend from a more 
devout mind for having visited tlic " Head Quarters of 
Washington." 



How ACQUIKED. 25 

INTRODUCTION OF A EILL IN LEGISLATURE TO BUY THE HEAD 

QUARTERS. 

In answer to tlie prayer of tlie petitioners tlie Committee 
ask leave to introduce a bill. ^' * ''* 

The 1)111 was passed by a luianimous vote and became a law 
by signature of the Governor, April 10, 1850, becoming 
Chapter 265 of the laws of that year. This bill appropriated 
$2,391.02, and authorized the Commissioners of the Land 
Office to purchase "certain premises known as Washington's 
Head Quarters," the amount to be paid to the Commissioners 
of Loans of Orange County. It also appropriated $6,000 to 
purchase otlier lots and parcels of ground formerly attached 
to and part of Washington's Headquarters. As at the time of 
the oiiginal purchase the house stood quite neai' to the south 
line of the lot, the Trustees appointed by the act saw that 
upon the adjoining property at some time in the future, 
buildings might be erected whose character would be detri- 
mental to the property which they had in charge, so they 
secured the passage of an act by the Legislature appropria- 
ting $5,000 to l)uy a strip of land along the whole south side, 
thus receding the line further from the house. This rounded 
up and completed the work initiated by Mr. Caldwell. 
The State came into possession absolutely and forever, and 
private parties who wanted to make a gigantic speculation 
out of the old historic s])ot were foiled in their purpose. 
The original act appointing Trustee, also provided for a 
succession, and an annual appropriation is made to pay the 
" Keeper's " salary, who in addition has his rent free and 
any gratuity he may receive from visitors, though no charge 
is made or asked from visitors. 

Thus was this spot, which has become the shrine of the 
lovers of Liberty the world over and the Mecca of all those 



How Acquired. 27 

who reverence true greatness, rescued and preserved for all 
time. 

That which has heen presented above it is l^elieved was 
unknown liistory. It certainly has been unwi'itten history, 
and has the merit of truthfulness, and has been written 
with a purpose — to give honor where and to whom honor is 
ue, and as a memorial to a revered father [who, as a com- 
patriot and college mate of the immortal Robert Emmet, in 
his youth feeling the iron heel of despotism in his native 
land, Ireland, was with all his father's numerous family 
" sent out of the land in haste " by the order of a tyranical 
government choosing witli them the United States as " The 
Land of Promise" and adoption] took every occa- 
sion afterward to instill into t\\e minds of all his children the 
loftiest piinciples of patriotism, pointing especially to the 
example and conduct of Washington under the temptation 
of the " Newburgh Letters." 

In 1824 Lafayette made his fourth and last ^dsit to the 
United States, taking an extended tour throughout the whole 
country. He was greatly delighted at the evidences wliich 
he everywhere saw of its prosperty, and rejoiced in the stal- 
wart growth of the young Re])ublic, whose entrance (a half 
century previous) into the family of nations he had so 

Since the dedication of the Headquarters which occurred July 4. 1850, 250,000 
persons have registered their names on the books kept there for that purpose ; 
this does not include residents of Newburgh, and these visitors have been of 
every color, nationalitv, and decree of social position from the plebeian to the 
titled man and woman, all coming reverently to worship at this Shrine of Liberty. 
To show the gradual increase of this visitation the number for 1851 (the first 
full year) and the numbers for the last several years are given : 1851, 4,624. 
For 1880, - - - 14,361 

" 1881, - - - - 19,962 

" 1882, - - - 19,471 

" 188.3, - - - - 22,835 

" 1884, - - - 20,148 

" 1885, . - - - 20.534 

" 188G, - - - 22.568 

139,889 



How ACQUIKED. 



29 



efficiently aided. He came to Newburgh to again revisit 
the place where sucli imporrant events had transpired 
in which he had been so conspicuous an actor. 
His own Head Quarters in that early period wei-e 
about two miles south of " The Old Hasbrouck 
House," on the " Vale of Avoca," near what is now 
known as Quassaic Creek. Visiting in 1824 the old house at 
Ncwburgh, and entering it, it vv^as some time before the old 
man could " find his bearing.'" Going around tlie room touch- 
ing here and there some part of the compartment, he at last 
exclaimed, " It is ! it is ! the very same, the room witli 
seven doors and one window," now known as such the 
world over. 






50./^ 


A— Sitting Room. 


D— Hall. G— Washington's Beflroom 


B— Family Room. 


E— Parlor. H— Store Room. 


C— Kitchen. 


F— Washington's Office. 



DIAGKAM OF THE INTEEIOR OF THE FIRST STOEY OF WASHING- 
TON'S HEADQUARTERS. 



30 WASHDTGToisr's Headquarters. 

It is ])ut just to Mr. Campl^ell to say that thoiigli not so 
prominent in the transaction as his associate Loan Commis- 
sioner, Mr. Caldwell, he was in entire sympathy and 
accord with the latter in all his efforts to secure to the State 
a permanent title to the Head Quarters property. Alexander 
Campbell, who belonged to the Society of Friends, was 
}x>rn in Argyleshire, Scotland, Nov. 26, 1793, and emigrated 
to the United States in September, 1806. The likeness of 
him given was taken when he was sixty years of age. He 
was respected for his kindness of heart, which indeed ex- 
pressed itself on his countenance. 

PROMINENT EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE NEWBURGII HEAD- 
QUARTERS. 

It is believed that it will 1)e most appropriate, as the his- 
tory of the acquisition of this historic spot has been given, 
to refer to the event which more than any other connected 
witli it, makes it pre-eminently historic, and to all lovers of 
our beloved land, tlie event of all others, and Washington's 
connected therewith, which has added the crowning luster to 
his name. 

On the 3d day of Sei)teml)er, 1783, at Paris, the treaty of 
peace l>etween Great Britain and the United States was 
signed by the respective representatives of each government. 
On the 18th day of Octol»er Congress issued an order that 
on the 3d day of November tlie army wliich had through 
the long seven years' conflict maintained the struggle should 
be disbanded. The ]:)reliminaries of ])eace, however, had 
been signed on the 20th of January pre\dous. The aiTQy 
seeing that dis1)andment must T)efore long ensue, and that 
Congress had not made, and did not appear to be making 
any efforts to provide for their long arrearages of pay, or 
to even to adjust their accounts, became restive, and ready 



How Acquired. 31 

to listen to tlie suggestions of e\^l-minded persons. On the 
lltli of March, 1783, there appeared an "address to the 
army," wdth no name attaclied. This "address" was com- 
posed mth great ingenuity, and calcuLated to inflame the 
rising passions of the army. The following extract is given: 

[" History of the War of the Independence of the United 
States of America," by Charles Botta.] 

" After a pursuit of seven years the object for \vhich we 
set out is at length brought within our reacli.^ Yes, my 
friends, that suffering courage was active once; it lias con- 
ducted the United States of America through a d()ul)tful 
and bloody war. It has placed her in the chair of inde- 
pendency, and peace returns again to bless. Whom ? A 
country willing to redress your wrongs, cherish your worth 
and reward your services f A country courting^ your return 
to private life, witli tears of gratitude and smiles of admi- 
rati<^n, longing to divide with you those riches which your 
wounds have preserved. Is this the case ? or is it rather a 
country that tramples upon your rights, disdains y(nir cries, 
and insults your distresses ? ' Have you not more than once 
suo^gested your wishes, and made known your wants to Con- 
gress, wants and wishes Avliich gratitude and policy sliould 
have anticipated, rather than e^^aded. And have you not 
lately, in the meek language of entreating memoiials, begged 
from' their justice what you could no longer expect from 
their favor ^"^ Have you been answered ? Let the letter of 
your delegates to Philadelphia reply. If tliis then be your 
treatment while the swords you wear are necessary for the 
defense of America, what have you to expect wlien your 
voice shall sink and your strength dissipate by division, 
when those swords, the instrmnents and companions of 
yom- glory, shall be taken from y<^ur sides, and no remain- 
ing mark of military distinction left, but your wants, in- 
formities and scars ? ' Can you then consent to be the only 
sufferers by this revolution,' and retiring from the field grow 
old in poverty, wretchedness and contempt ? Can you con- 
sent to wade through the mire of dependency and owe the 



32 WASimsTGTON's Headquaetees. 

miserable remnants of that life to charity, which has 
hitherto heen spent in honor ? If you can, go ; and cany 
with you the: jest of Tories and the scorn of Whigs; the 
ridicule, and, what is ^vorse, the pity of the world. Go ; 
starve and l^e forgotten ! But if your spirit should revolt at 
this ; if you have sense enough to discover, and spirit 
enough to oppose tyranny, under whatever garb it may 
assume, whether it be the plain coat of repulilicanism or the 
splendid rolje of royalty; if you have yet learned to dis- 
criminate between a people and a cause, l)etween men and 
princij^les, awake ; attend to your situation and redress 
YOURSELVES. If the PRESENT MOMENT l)e lost, cvcry future 
effort is vain ; and your threats will be as empty as your 
entreaties now." 

Tiie effect was to " chafe minds already exasperated 
into a delirium of fury." 

Washington's action. 

Washington saw the rising storm, and determined to turn 
aside its violence. He issued orders calling upon his general 
and field officers, and one officer from each ct)mpany in the 
army, to assemble, that they might deliberate upon the 
measures to be adopted for obtaining the redress of their 
grievances. 

Washington's general order calling for a meeting of his 

officers. 

Head Quarters, Newburgh, March 11, 1783. 
The Commauder-in-Cliief having heard that a general 
meeting of the officers of the army was to be held this day at 
the New Building, in an anonymous letterwliich was circulated 
yesterday by some unknown person, conceives (although he 
is fully persuaded that the good sense of the officers would 
induce|them to pay very little attention to such an irregular 
invitation) his duty as well as the true interests of the 



How Acquired. 33 

army requires his disapprobation of such disorderly pi-oceed- 
ings, at the same time he requests the General and Field 
officers, with one officer from tlie Staff of the army, will 
assemble at 1 2 o'clock on Saturday next, at the New Build- 
ing, to hear the report of the Committee of the Army to 
Congress. After mature delil )eration they will advise what 
further measures ought to be adopted as most rational and 
best calculated to attain the just and important object in 
\dew. The senior officer in rank present will be pleased to 
preside and report the result of the delil )erations to the Com- 
mander-in-Chief. 

On the next day, after the issuance of this order l>y Wash- 
ington, a second anonymous letter appeared to the effect 
that they must act with energy in the assembly which 
was to meet on the 15th of March, at the "Temple," 
or " New Building," a large log Ijuilding wdiicli had been 
erected for the purpose of Sunday worship and other meet- 
ings, situate about three miles south-west from the Head 
Quarters. In the meantime Washington was not idle. He 
called into his counsel those tried and trusty patriots — 
Knox, Steuben, Putnam, Green, Wayne and others, each name 
the impersonation of loyalty. And in the little north-east 
room they met and approved of his purpose to attend the 
meeting and address the malcontents. In conversation with 
others he appealed to the patriotism of some, he reminded 
others of the exhausted condition of the public treasury, and 
that he himself had not received one cent of pay from the be- 
ginning of the war, and on others he brought to bear other 
motives and and appeals. 

The meeting was held and fully attended. It was a grave 
occasion. When the assembly had l^een called to order 
by General Gates, Washington stepped for^vard and deliv- 
ered the well-known masterly written addi'ess, which 
chained their attention, in language clear and compact, mild 



34 Washington's Headquarters. 

yet severe, elevated and dignified, and withal so loyal to 
patriotic principles, that tlie whole mutinous scheme was 
overth^o^vn in the deliberative conference which followed. 
More than forty years transpired before it w^as ascertained 
that the author of the incendiary address was Major John 
Armstrong, [m aid to Gen. Gates. [From " Washington's 
orders issued at Newburgh," compiled by Major Edward C. 
Boynton, of Newburgh, one of the Trustees Washington's 
Headquarters.] 

Assembled with his officers and men in the Temple he 
took from his pocket his "address," and ])utting on his 
spectacles he said, " These eyes, my friends, have grown 
dim, and these locks white in the service, yet I never 
doubted the justice of my country.''' 

EXTRACT FROM THE *' ADDRESS." 

" My God ! " he exclaimed, " what can this writer have in 
view by recommending such measures ? Can he be a friend 
to the army ? Can he V)e a friend to this country ? Ratlier 
is he not an insidious foe ; some emissary from New York, 
plotting the ruin of botli by sow^ing the seed of discord and 
separation V)et^veen the civil and military authorities of the 
continent ? Let me entreat you, gentlemen, not to take any 
measures which, viewed in the calm light of reason, will 
lessen the dignity and sully the glory you liave hitherto 
maintained ; let me re<[uest you to I'elv on the ])Uglited faith 
of your country, and place full confidence in the pia-ity of 
the intentions of Congress, that previous to your dissolution 
as an army, they will cause all your accounts to l)e fairly 
liquidated, ancl that they will adopt the most effectual 
measures in their power to render ample justice to you for 
your faithful and meritorious services. And let me conjure 
you in the name of our common country, as you value your 
own sacred honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, and 
as you regard the military and national honor of America, 
to express the utmost horror and detestation of the man who 



How Acquired. 35 

wishes under any speci(^ns pretenses to overthrow the lil)er- 
ties of our country ; and who wickedly attempts to open the 
ilood crates of ci\dl discord, and deluge our rising empire 
with hlood." 

" By thus deteiTnining, and thus acting, you mil i^ursue 
the plain and direct road to the attainment of your wishes ; 
you will defeat the insidious designs of our enemies who 
are compelled to resort from open force to secret artifice." 

It will appear from the al)Ove jjartial extracts that while 
the appeal in the Armstrong letters was most artfully con- 
ceived, with a purpose to inflame the minds of officers and 
men, the " address " of Washington, evolved in his mind 
and written in tlie little north-east room of •' Tlie Old Stone 
House," was equally adroit in appealing to their patriotism, 
their sense that justice to them would be done by Congress, 
and that it was a secret enemy who was thus endeavoring 
to accomplish in this way what arms had failed to do. 

conjectures. 

Fancy attempts in vain to picture that 15th day of March, 
1783, when Washington with his asseml^led officers al)out 
him, stood in the " Temple." Was it a bleak, cold March 
day — "winter iingering in the lap of Spring?" Did the 
east wind drive l:)efore it over tlie " Beacon " lieights dark, 
forl)idding stoiTU clouds, emblematical of the l)lack cloud of 
sedition gathering in tlie l)rensts of those desperate soldiers? 
Or was it one of those rare Spring days which sometimes 
surprise us even in March, when throughout the great 
"Gate of the Highlands" soft winds came laden with 
promise of coming beauty, and bird songs here and there 
are harbingers of hope? Did Washington, as he looked 
down between the portals of "Storm King" and "Break 
Neck," toward the plains of West Point turn in thought to 
that other previous dark day in the history of the young Ke. 



36 Washington's Headquarters. 

puljlic ? Did he remember how tliat damnable treason of 
Arnold was discovered and thwarted by the ^vatchfiil patri- 
otism of John Paulding, David Williams and Isaac Van 
Wert, and did he take refuge in tlie hope that the same 
watchful Providence which had averted the former disaster, 
would guard our country in its present danger ? 

What his thoughts were we cannot know. In that 
moment of extreme peril he was as ahvays, the strong, self- 
poised, imperturbable man, hopeful for his country. 




" There is l)ut one straight course, and that is to seek truth, 
and to pursue it steadily." Washington. 

Thus Washington stilled the rising waters of sedition 
among his officers and soldiers, and dashed from liis own 
lips the tempting, though poisoned clialice which concealed 
in its contents a throne, and there])y most worthily imitated 
the conduct of his Divine Exem])lar, who, "on an exceeding 
high mountain," nearly eighteen c^'uturies before, met the offer 
of, " All these things will I give thee " with " Get thee hence 
satan." " There is no doubt that had Washington so desired 
he could at tliis time have founded a Monarchy, sustained Ijy 
the bayonets of his armv. He took the course on the con- 
trary, of quelling this disposition on the part of his soldiers 
wherever it showed itself." 

" He was a man, take him for all in all, 
"We ne'er shall look upon his like again."— Shakespeare. 



How Acquired. 37 

There are four e\eiit8 iu tlie liistory of the Kevolntionary 
struggle which are intimately counected with the Head 
Quarters locality. First, the refusal of Washington on May 22, 
1782, to accept a crown offered to him in aii address pre- 
sented by Colonel Nicola. He met this pr()ix)sal in these ever 
memoral)le words : " I am much at a loss to conceive what 
part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an 
address which to me seems hig with tlie greatest mischiefs 
which can befall my country. Let me conjure you then, if 
you have any regard for your country, concern for your- 
selves, or posterity, or respect iov me, to l^anish these thoughts 
from your mind, and nexer communicate as from yourself or 
any one else a sentiment of a like nature." The second 
event was the su})pression of a, movement to seize upon the 
government, already narrated ; the third the proclamation of 
the cessation of Ijostilities with the Mother Country, and 
the fourth the disbandment of the army, Nov. 8, 1788. 

In view of the fact that the State is in possession of the 
property; that Newburgh is in tlie enjoyment of that posses- 
sion, though neither knowing of the men and means by 
whom and which that possession and enjoyment were secui'ed, 
the following is not inapplicable : 

My name and my place and my tomb all forgotten ; 
The brief race of time, well and patiently run ; 
So let me pass away, peacefully, silently : 
Only remembered by what I have done. 

I need not be missed, if another succeed me. 
To reap down those fields which in spring-time I've sown ; 
He who plowed and who sowed, is not missed by the reaper ; 
He is only remembered by what he has done. 

So let my living be, so be my dying ; 

So let my name lie unblazoned, unknown, 

Unpraised and unmissed ; I shall still be remembered ; 

Yes ! but remembered by what I have done. 



38 Washington's Headquaeters. 

On the 4tli day of July, 1850, the property which had 
been preserved from the grasp of private specuLation, and 
in the mannei- foretold, secured in possession of the State 
forever, was dedicated. From the verv measure account 
which is found in the Newburgh Gazette of July 10, 1850, 
the following extract is given; and it is an instance of the 
progress of journalism from that day to this that an event 
of such interest at the time did not call out more journalistic 
enterprise in giving a fuller report than the one the Gazette 
did, so different from the exceedingly interesting and ex- 
haustive account that the Newburgh Journal gave of the 
sul)sequent Centennial cele])ration, held on the same grounds. 
The Gazette says "that by noon 10,000 strangers wei-e in 
town. Gen. Winfield Scott came from West Point, and hun- 
dreds called on him at the United States Hotel. x\. street pro- 
cession followed; arrived at the Head Quarters; after singing 
an Ode written ])y Mrs. Mary E. Monell, the flag was raised 
by Gen. Scott. He then addressed the crowd, and after him 
John W. Edmonds "■ — (Judge Edmonds of the Supreme 
Court, residing at Poughkeepsie )- — " the orator of the day, 
then Frederick J. Belts, Jolm J. Monell and William F. 
Fullerton." 

The following is taken from the Gazette July 10, 1850. 

ODE SUNG AT THE DEDICATION OF THE OLD BI'ILDING JITLY 4tH, 

1850. 

Compnsrd hy Mary E. Mondl. 

Freeman pause ! this ground is holy ; 

Noble spirits suffered here ; 
Tardy justice marching: slowly, 

Tried their faith from year to year; 
Yet their patience 

Conquered every doubt and fear. 



How AcciumED. 39 

Sacred is this mansion hoary ! 

Neath its roof-tree years ago, 
Dwelt tlie father of our glory. 

He whose name appalled the foe ; 
Greater honor 

Home nor hearth can never know. 

Unto him and them are owing. 

Peace as stable as onr hills ; 
Plenty like yon river flowing, 

To the sea from thousand rills : 
Love of country. 

Love that every bosom thrills. 

Brothers! to your care is given, 

Safe to keep this hallowed spot ; 
Though our warriors rest in heaven, 

And their places know them not. 
See ye to it 

That their deeds be ne'er forget. 

With a prayer your faith expressing. 

Raise your country's flag on high : 
Here where rests a nation's blessing. 

Stars and stripes sliall float for aye ; 
Mutely telling 

Stirring tales of days gone by. 

Since the fore2:;oing, iu manuscript, was placed in the 
hands of the publishers, Avith great deligiit the following 
letter from the Hon. Hamilton Fish, the prominent public 
actor in the history just given, has 1)een received by the 
author. It explains itself, and supplies the "missing link" 
in the transaction. The veneral)le writer is now in his 
seventy-ninth year of age, and judging from the hand- 
writing of the letter, as the pul)lic will on reading the sub- 
ject matter, " his eye is not dim nor his natural force abated." 

New Yoek, Jan. 24, 1887. 
RiCHAED Caldwell, Esq., Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y. 
Deak Sir: — Your letter of the '2-2d inst. was duly re- 
ceived. I am pleased to learn from it tliat a true account of 
what led to the securins^ to the State of New York the 



40 Washington's Headquaeters. 

possession of tlie Wasliingion's Head Quarters near 
NewV)urgli is to Ije iirepared, and that you have undertaken 
its preparation. 

I have a vivid recollection (.-f the incident. Mr. Andrew 
J. Caldwell (your father) was one of the Commissioners for 
loaning the U. S. Deposit Fund (as it was called) in Orange 
County, and in his discharge of the duties of his office, on 
the default of payment on a mortgage on the property 
known as the " ( )ld Ilasln-ouck House," (Washington's 
Quarters) foreclosed tlieir mortgage, and advised me, being 
tlien Governoi" of the State, of the facts, and suggested the 
importance of its preservation to the State, as an important 
and valual)le memorial of past associations. The idea im- 
pressed me most favorably, and I determined to lose no 
oj^portunity to carry out his patriotic and large-minded sug- 
gestion. The idea of pi-eserving this property to the State 
originated with Mr. Caldwell. In addition to the letters, 
of which you send me copies, namely, one fromJMr. Caldwell to 
me, dated Salislmry Mills, Oct. 1, 1849, and my reply, 
dated New York, Oct. 0, 1849, I find only one letter from 
Mr. Caldwell, dated SalisV)uiy Mills, 28th 'of Octol>er, 1849, 
in which he says : "Though the intelligent and public-spirited 
portion of tliat community (tlie village of Newl)urgh) are 
warmly in favor of tlie ol^ject proposed, no public expres- 
sion of their views and wishes has yet taken place. The 
subject, liowever, has been taken up in a more infiuential 
quarter, and one not liable to suspicion of local or interested 
motives. The Board of Super\asors, the local Legislature 
of the county, have had their attention directed to the sul)- 
ject, and have passed resolutions and prepared a memorial 
to the Legislature, praying that pro\asion be made foi' pro- 
tecting and im])i'oving the premises, as pul)lic property, and 
preservang the " Old Stone House," in its original form and 
construction. It is also proposed that application l)e made 
to Congress to release and remit to the State of New York 
that portion of the United States Deposit Fund wliieli was 
loaned on tlie premises aforesaid, on such conditions and 
with sucli guarantees as may best secure tlie preservation 



How ACQUIKKD. 41 

and improvement of the same, to l^e held l)y the State as a 
pul)lic ground, inalienable forev'er." The letter then pro- 
ceeded to state that " the Board of Supervisors meet again 
to-day. I am ])romised a r-opy of their Resolutions and 
Memorial, and if they ap])eai- worthy of your attention, 
may take the liberty to forward them." 

A cknowledging this letter, 80tli Oct., (the day of its recep- 
tion) I wrote Mr. Caklwell that I had made the subject " a 
matter of reference in my message, which has been in print 
for some days.*' The message had been submitted confi- 
dentially to the consideration and advice of tlie State officers, 
(as it was the cabinet of the Governor) and the particular pas- 
sage referring to the Head Quarters had l)een most cordially 
approved. I did not favor ^lie idea of applying to Congress 
for any aid in the matter, thinking it l)eneath the dignity of 
the State of New York to accept, much less to ask assist- 
ance, for such an object from any quarter. I aided and 
advised in the preparation of the V)ill, which passed the 
Legislature, and exercised what influence I could exercise to 
secure its enactment. But the subject met with such favor 
that there was lurt little difficulty in the adoption 
of the law. The State made good the amount to the 
United States Deposit Fund. You liave the act 
as it was passed and the copy of the Governor's mes- 
sage of Jan. 1st, 1850, and I need not refer to them. I do 
not tind any other corres]iondence between Mi*. A. J. Cald- 
well and myself than the four letters to which I have 
referred. I hope that your publication may prove a sub- 
stantial pecuniary l)enefit to the benevolent association to 
which you generously propose to appropriate its ]:)roceeds. 
If you think proper to insert a likeness of myself in the 
book I enclose a photograph as you recpiest taken some years 
since, l)ut several years after I had ceased to hold the office of 
Governor ; in fact photogi'aphing at that time was, if kno^vn 
at all, in its infancy. With much respect, 

I am, my dear sir, very truly yours, 

HAMILTON FISH. 



42 Washington's Headquarters. 

As a part of the history connected with the Head 
Quarters, the following facts in the life of Washington, and 
those sterling patriots whom he gathered al)()nt him dm'ing 
the nearly two years of his army life at Newhurgh ave given: 

WASHINGTON, C03IMANDER-IN-C1IIEF OF THE ARMY OF THE 

REVOLUTION. 

Born in Westmorland County, Va., Fel). l^-2, 1732. 

Died at Mount Vernon, Va., Dec. 14, 17V)1). 

Married Mrs. Martha Custis when he w^as 1^ years oi age, 
Jan n, 1759. 

Elected Commander-in-Chief hy the Continental Congress 
while he was a Member of the Virginia Assembly, May 10, 
1775, being then 43 years old. 

Took command at Camln-idge, Jul\- 2, 1875. 

Nov. 2, 1783, issued at Princeton, N. J., his farewell ad- 
dress to the army of the United States. 

Kesigned his commission at Annapolis, Md., Dec, 19, 1783, 

Returned to Mount Vernon, Dec. 23, 1783. 

Chosen first President and inaugurated at New York, 
April 30, 1789. 

Refused third election and issued his "farewell address to 
the country" 1796. 

Was a member of the Church of England. 

Was six feet two inches high, brown hair, blue eyes, large 
head and fi-ame, weighing 209 pounds. 

By Washington's will, dated Feb. 9, 1799, he manumitted 
all his slaves, 124 in numl)er. The will is long, and (xeorge 
Washington's name is written at the bottom of every ))age. 

" First in war, first in peace, first in the liearts of 
his countrymen." 



How Acquired. 43 

MAJOR GEIS^. LAFAYETTE. 

Marie Jean Paul liocli Yves GilLeiT Martien Marques 1). 
Lafayette. 

Born Sept. 6, 1757, in Castle of Chavagnac Dept., Loire, 
France. Died May 20, 1834. In 1777 he came to America 
to take part in the War of the Revolution. Not at first re- 
ceiving the rank and commission that had l>een jjromised 
him ])efore leaving France he wrote to Congress thus : 
" After the sacrifice I have made I have the right to exact 
two favors — one is to serve at my own expense, the other to 
serve at fu'st as a volunteer." In 1784, after the close of 
the war, he made his third visit to the United States ; \asited 
Washington at Mount Vernon, and everywhere was received 
with unbounded enthusiasm. 

In 1824 he visited America for the last time; laid the 
corner stone of Bunker Hill Monument, and on Sept. 8, em- 
bai'ked on the government war ship Brandy wine, especially 
detailed to convey him to France. It was during this trip " that 
he visited Congress, and was received l)y that l^ody with dis- 
tinguished honor. It voted $140,000 as payment in part for 
the money he had expended on our behalf. He had clothed 
and fed our naked, starving soldiers at his own cost, ex- 
pended money for the State, fought our l^attles, endured, 
suffered, and toiled for our welfare ; yet he never asked, 
never expected compensation. It had been entirely a free- 
vnl\ offering — his youth, his wealth, his life, all, an unselfish, 
noble sacrifice to to a ^veak but brave people, struggling to 
be free." [Washington and His Generals. — Headley.] 

MA.JOR-GE]^ERAL NATHANIEL GREEN. 

Born in Warwick, R. I., May 27, 1742. Died June 19, 
1786. Member Rhode Island Legislature 1770. When the 



44 Washington's Headquarters. 

war broke out he joined tlie army, and by tJie Society of 
Friends, of which he was a member, was expelled. Made 
Brio;adier-General June 22, 1775, and Major-General Aug. 9 
177(). President of Court Martial on Major Andre's trial 
Took command of the army of the South, at Charleston 
Dec. 2, 1780. Congress voted him a gold medal, commem 
orative of the l)attle of Eutaw Springs. Considered the 
al)lest general in the army next to Washington. 

MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAN. 

Bo]-n in Salem, Mass., Jan. 17, 1718. Died in Brooklyn, 
Conn., May 29, 1790. Meml)erof Connecticut Legislature. 
In 1777 he was in command in the Highlands, N., Y., and 
with far-seeing wisdom selected West Point on the Hudson 
as the site of a fortress. In 1778 took his perilous break- 
neck ride down the side of a precipice at West Greenwich, 
Conn, escaping from those who thouglit liis capture secured. 
While in command in the Higldands, a Tory spy was cap- 
tured, tried and sentenced to death. Sir Henry Clinton, in 
command at Ne^v York, sent a flag of truce to Gen. Putnam, 
demanding the release of the man, to which the General 

replied : 

"Head Qfarteks, 7th Aug., 1777. 

" Edward Pidmer, an officer in the enemy's service, was 
taken as a spy, lurking within our lines, he has been tried as a 
spy, condemned a*i a spy, and sliall be executed as a spy, and 
the flag is (M'dered to depart immediatelv. 

"ISRAEL PUTNAM." 

" P. S. — He lias been executed accordingly." 

MAJOR-GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE. 

Called " Mad Anthony Wayne " from his impetuosity and 
the fierceness of his charges. Born in Chester County, Pa., 



How AcQumED. 45 

Jan. 1, 1 "45. Died on Presqiie Isle, 15th Dec, 1790. Farmer 
and land surveyor until 1774. Member Pennsylvania Legis- 
lature 1774-1775. Kaised regiment Se])t. 17, 1775. 
Made a Colonel January 1, 1776, Brigadier-General 
Feb. 21, 1777. Cai)tured Stony Point at night July 
15, 1779, for which Congress gave him a vote of thanks and 
a gold medal. When asked l)y General Washington if he 
could storm the fort he replied, " General, if you ^vill only 
plan it, I will storm the infernal regions." 

MAJOE-GENERAL STEUBEN. 

Born in Prussia. Died Nov. 28, 1797. Aid-de-Camp to 
King of Prussia. Arrived in the United States Dec. 1777. 
Entered the army as volunteer, on the condition if his ser- 
vices were not satisfactory or the United States not success- 
ful, he was not to receive pay. " We are })eginning to 
walk," he said after the storming and cai)ture of Stony 
Point. One of Court Martial to try Andre. 

MAJOR-GENERAL KNOX. 

Born in Boston, July 25th, 1750. Died in Thomaston, 
Me., Oct. 27, 1800. Aid to General Ward at Bunker Hill. 
Sent to Canada to l)ring artillery across the country, and as 
a reward for his success was placed in command over the 
artillery. On Court Mai'tial which tried Andi-e. One of 
the Commissioners to arrange the terms of peace after the 
close of the war. Secretary of War under Washington, and 
for eleven years. 

First proposed " The Society of the Cincinnatti." Death 
caused by swallowing a chicken bone. Weighed 280 pounds. 



46 Washington's Headquarters. 

TKISTKKS OF IMIK IIKAD (JIAHTKUS, AND HOW AITOINTED. 

Tlic TrustcH's of tlic Head (Quarters are nominated l»y tlie 
(Jovcnioi" of tli( State and continued by the Senate. Tliey 
are ten in nunil)ei', and serve for five years, two u'oin*;' ont 
eaeli year. Tliey do not receive any remuneration, '^Plie 
following" are the ])resent Trustees: 

Joel T. Ileadley, President, 
James (J. (iraliam, Secretary, 
Kdwai'd C Hoyuton, A. Smith Kins::, 

Peter Ward, " T. II. 11. Chapman, 

(^harles S, Jenkins David Carson, 

Michael 11. llirschberg, John C. Adams. 



ACKN0WLE1)(;E]\[ENTS. 

The authoi' desires thankfully to place on record his 
indeUtedness to Secretaiy of State, Freih'rick Cook, of 
Alhany, N. W, for extracts from ]>ul>lic papers in the State 
archives, the manuscript of which will he ])reserved hy him 
as most beautiful specimens of penmanshi]). Also to I). C. 
Contant, City Clei'k of Newhurgh, tor t:anscripts from old 
villaiiv records, and for courtesies received from the CK'rk of 
the Board of Supervisors of OranLi'e Cimnty in uiviuii' access 
to old records ; to the Hon. Hamilton Fish and the repre- 
sentatives of Alexandei- C\am])l)ell for j photographs respec- 
tively loaned, from which j)lates were taken ; to the New- 
hurgh Journal for plates loaned, and last, hut by no means 
least, to the IMiddletown Press, for very liberal terms of 
publication, resulting as it is ho]ied it will, through the lib- 
erality of a generous j)ublic, in a large resultant 
benefit to ''The Tadies' Home Societv of Oi-ano-e Countv." 



Anotlior " II(^a(l(|narter8." 

— THE — 



B 








OF 



MORGAN I HANFORD, 

No. 6 North St., Middletown, N. Y. 



S, H. ]\I <)!{(! AN. 



M T. IIanfoim). 



We .'ii'c llic TiCndiTitr Dcfilci-s in 




OUK 8T0CK OK SI'KINO 8UITINGH KMHItACKS AIJ, 'IIIK LA'I'KST I'A'I")'KI{.\S (JK 

i'()Ki;i<;x AM) domkstk; wkavks. 
4^iir 4'iisloiii Work is I04|iial !<» aii.> in iiiis 4'il.v. 

VVK IIAVK 'I' I IK 

Gold and Silver Dress Shirt, Laundered and Unlaundered. 
i:ai{i. a \vii>s<»\*s i.i\i:\ <;4mm»s. 

Everything in Gents' Furnishings, Handsome Neckwear, Suspenders, 

Gloves, Hosiery, Etc. VVc have all the Latest Styles of Hats, Caps, Etc., 

Trunks and Satdu-ls in ,ill sizes. Call and see us. 

ADAMS & WOODWARD. 

No. 41 North Street, Mi<l(ileto\vii, N. \. 



Do y<^ii read the Press ? You should if you do not. The 
Semi- Weekly edition issued Tuesdays and Fridays, $2.00 
per year; $1.00 for six months; 50 cents for tliree months. 
Sample copies free. 



The Daily Edition 50 cents per month. Postpaid to any 
address. 



If you want any printing done, such as Books, Pamphlets, 
Posters, Bill and Letter Heads, Invitations, Programmes, 
Envelopes, Price Lists, Circulars, or any work in the printing 
line, send to the Press Office for samples and piices. 

STIVERS, SLAUSON & BOYD, 

INIiddletown, N. Y. 

--^^ N E A R ' S •<*?^^ 

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 

CONFECTIONERY. 



Pure Candies Manufactured Daily. 



MRS. SYLVESTER NEAR, 

27 North St., Middletown, 



A TRUE HISTORY 



OF 



THE ACQUISITION 



OF 



WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS 



AT XEWBURCJH, 



By the State of New York. 







BY RICHARD CALDWELL, 



SALISBURY MILLS, N. Y. 




Verdict of the Jury 



We woul<l call your attention to Oakley's Queen Noap, 
wliicli, for ECONOMY and EFFICIElfCY, is what its 
name implies : 

"THE QUEEN," 

and we can safely say that it excels anything ever pro- 
duced for liaundry and general Household purposes. 

Every housekeeper not already familiar with Oak- 
ley's Queen ^oap should at once give it a trial. 

It has earned its reputation as the hest of liaundry 
ISoaps solely by its superior washing qualities and its 
freedom from adulteration, and always gives perfect 
satisfaction. 

It is made by 

L. & J. OAKLEY, 

NEWBURGH, N. Y., 

And is for Sale bv all First- Class G-rocers, 



PEASE'S 



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Pease's Honey, Horeliomid, Licorice and Tar 

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the originator of Horehound Candy, and has no equal. No one's stock is 
complete without it, and eveiy family should iiave it in their home. 

j^^^Beivare of iveak and icorthless Imitations similar in no.me. 

Ask for Pease's Honey, Horehound, Licorice and Tar. 

Buy and receive healing. Take nO Substitute. 

Three sizes : 25c., 50c., and $1.00. The 50c. size is a Pocket Flask and 
very convenient for gentlemen. The two larger sizes are cheaper in proportion 

CHAS. G. PEASE, Prop., New York. 

aVade SuppUed by THURBER, "WHYLAND & CO. 



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Window Fiiriii^liiiig'«i, 4&e. 

Read}" for the Spring Campainu with tlie Largest and Finest Stock in this part 

of the Country. Come and see for yourself the sight will do 

j^ou good even if j^ou don't wish to purchase. 

Carpets a Special Featiare 

At this season of the year. Also a 
BIO ISAI^E OF llA.^IKlTRCiH EM BROIDERIES 

At Fifty Cents on the Dollar. 

CEO. B. ADAMS. 

C. E. CBAWFORD & BROTHER, 

44 and 46 Xortli Street, Ifliddletown, ^T. Y. 



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Silver-Plated Ware, I.<aiu]>s, Table Cntlery, &e., &e. 

Specialties for the Spring of 1887 : 



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